Exploring The Abandoned Operations and Office Block Atop The Mountain

11 March 2023

On my way to the summit of the highest peak in Hong Kong last weekend, I stumbled upon an abandoned structure on the ridge located below the observatory radar. Each time I see abandoned buildings I always thought of the Urban Exploration Community by @slobberchops.

I was walking along the ridge to take in the breathtaking views when I noticed the stairs leading down to the location. I was considering whether or not to raid it since I was alone. Who wants to enter an abandoned area alone, anyway? Maybe slobberchops. Do you?

Although there were groups of hikers along the ridge, no one dare to enter the derelict compound. Probably concerned about what might be hidden beneath the place that seemed to have been forgotten. However, I was certain that it hadn't been forgotten at all because I could see graffiti on its walls. Some graffitiers once spent time and spread out their artwork to give colors to its rustic walls.

Although the compound is fenced and outsiders are not supposed to enter the premise, someone purposefully gaped a hole in this section of the barbed wire fence to allow intruders to pass. Yet in order to get through it, one must duck, and people with large frames would not fit. People are entering this abandoned location through this hole because the main gate was locked.

This Abandoned Operations and Office Block doesn't have much story that can be found online aside from the fact that it was part of the Project Cabbage Leaf built in the 1950s. From the date, you could tell that this has been part of the World War Era.

Along the ridge lines watch posts that as well deteriorated over time now serve as resting places for hikers which offer a stunning view of the New Territories District of Hong Kong on the left.

As you zoom out of the photo, you could see the Shek Kong Military Airfield in the middle and this office block might have been used by the military back in the time. That distant city covered by fog is probably a part of China.

Going back to the abandoned building...

From the outside, the structure seemed to be structurally intact, despite the damaged doors and window panes. If you zoom out on the image below, you can see that some of the glass windows were fitted with metal bars while others are still intact but covered in grime. Why were bars installed? Could it be a prison, a den, an asylum? I have no idea either.

Its rustic walls tell how long it has been standing still on the mountain top which was left to rot. Only graffiti give colors to its walls but I can't deny the fact that it's a perfect setting for movies, either action or horror. I bet the latter is the best.

More graffiti on the other sides of the compound. Can you even decipher them? Honestly, I can't read those graffiti.

Below the building in the photo above is this open empty room, probably the lobby, and trust me, I had goosebumps as I entered this space, especially when I saw the dark room on the right. It may seem intact structurally from the outside but the inside is totally wrecked and seemed couldn't be restored anymore.

I was imagining those horror movies where a ghost suddenly appears from the dark. As much as I wanted to see what was inside, I rather not because it was too dark. There were a plethora of questions in my mind in case I entered the dark room. "What if the door suddenly shut and I got stuck inside?" D*mn! I couldn't get in touch with anyone in case I got stuck because the location doesn't have an internet connection.

I supposed this was the front area of the abandoned building since it was facing the main gate. It seemed all parts have marks of graffiti by whoever artist did the work.

Isn't this a perfect backdrop for some cool or street-themed photoshoots?

I bet anyone can read this graffiti this time. It is a clear "WAIS EDGE". Curios of its meaning, I searched WAIS online and it stands for Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Now I became more curious about who infiltrated this place and spread colors to its walls.

It seemed that the graffitier enjoyed the coloring much as he made more on other walls. But whoever he is, not probably a local, but a foreign invader.

Slobberchops might say, this isn't a true 'UX', and this could be for the Street Art community 😂. Now let's look at the other parts of this derelict place.

But seriously, except for the shattered debris, broken wooden scaffoldings, broken metal bars, fire hoses, and other items that nobody cares to remove, there doesn't appear to be any remaining proof of the past as they have been cleared. There could be more relics inside, but I rather not enter as its walls and ceilings might collapse all of a sudden. I still care for my life though. "What the hell! Did you think about it before you entered this abandoned place alone?" My other side asked it, lol.

As much as I wanted to peek at the broken window glasses to see what was inside, it was freaking dark. To invade the place, one must bring a lamp to see the inside clearly.

The bottom part of the other building was fortunately open so I got a glimpse of what was inside. Could this be a generator room or whatever? I have no idea what it was. What about you @slobberchops?

But I wasn't sure if this is connected to the wrecked electrical room on the front side. I was tempted to enter this room, but I refrained after seeing the fallen floor and the rusted roll-up door that might fall at any moment. Just zoom out on the photo if you want to see those relics, if any, inside.

Here's the front view taken from the right side angle of this abandoned building. Now tell me if it's not a cool place to shoot for action-packed or horror movies.

The back view faces the New Territory.

Another empty building near the main gate and the only item I saw was that orange traffic cone on the left side. Why not take a souvenir shot? It's a perfect spot anyway.

Now here's a scary but funny story. I imagined something emerging from the dark room behind me as I waited for the 10 seconds countdown to click the camera. Then, out of nowhere, a terrifying sound rang in the air. Without looking back, I grabbed my tripod and stormed out 🤣.

I was terrified by the sound and I ran up the stairs where I came from. Only to find out that the group of friends was still on the ridge and they saw me storming out of the building, lol. That was embarrassing. Later when I reached the summit of this mountain, I realized that the cow atop the hill was the maker of the scary sound. D*mn. Due to the sound, which nearly gave me a heart attack, I failed to visit the building's rooftop. The stairs to the rooftop were just on the side, but after what happened, I no longer had the desire to climb it, lol.

What do you think happened to this compound? This won't be abandoned for no reason. Yet, some remains might offer some insight into what happened to this location. A fire maybe? Just checked the generator and electrical room and tell me if I am wrong. The history of what happened to this place isn't written in Tai Mo Shan history. But there was a 34-hour blaze on this mountain in 1986. Or probably another story. Who knows?

That was an amazing experience though and my first time to really enter an abandoned compound. If only I have company, I would definitely enter this place. This was unplanned and since it was just one reach away, why not visit it, right? And that's it! I did it!

While searching for more info about this abandoned building, I saw this article which has photos of the inside. But this was posted in 2014 and the place still has some remains. You can see the inside part of this abandoned building here. Just look for the Tai Mo Shan part.

That's all for now. See you in my next Urban Exploration. Thanks for dropping by.

Don't forget to watch the video until the end. You'll see what I saw. Don't freak out okay 😂.

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